Originally Posted by
Wilfred Laurier
There were a few models, esp., those from Sturmey Archer, that was not able to be used with any reasonable chainring/cog ratio withough risking damage to the insides, which made them only useful for small-wheel bikes like folders... but they have fixed that, I think.
Now, Sturmey-Archer even has a group based around the wide-ratio 8-speeds, that's set up for 30/25 gearing, for 622 mm wheels. (The problem is that first gear is the direct drive gear. However, that's also why they can do 30/25 - none of the gears are gearing down (multiplying torque), it's all gearing up.)
Originally Posted by
Wilfred Laurier
Their 8-speeds were decent from the Nexus range, and the Alfine 8-speed is great (thats what I have). I have heard mixed reports about the Shimano 11 speed.
Although I thought the Shimano 8-speeds were a bit maintenance hungry...
Originally Posted by
Wilfred Laurier
I don't know about Sram stuff, which was originally made by Sachs before they got bought out. I expect it is decent.
No idea about the new G8 (I think that one is nearly vaporware) or the (recently discontinued) i-Motion 9, but I thought the (long ago discontinued) Sachs Elan 12 was known for being inefficient, heavy, and unreliable (and the Rohloff is why it doesn't exist any more)?